ex USAAF 44-50206, RAF KN751 and Indian AF HE807. Most Liberators that were delivered to the RAF in the Far East took the Azores trans Atlantic route and than via Africa to India. The SNAKE addition to the serial indicated this aircraft was on delivery to the Far East and was not to be retained in the Middle East while on transit.

This was one of 296 B-24s completed at Willow Run during Dec. 1944 and given the USAAF serial 44-50206. Allocated to the RAF, as KN751, under the Lend-Lease agreement she was ferried to India and saw action in SE Asia until the Japanese surrender. She then went on to serve with the Indian Air Force, as HE807, in a maritime patrol role for almost twenty years. In 1974 she was flown to the UK after being donated by the Indian Govt. to the RAF Museum. The SNAKE suffix to the serial indicated that the aircraft was on delivery to the RAF in South East Asia.

Moved from the RAF Museum, Cosford Collection where I had first seen this beauty, to the Bomber Command Hall at Hendon. The SNAKE suffix to the serial indicated that the aircraft was on delivery to the RAF in South East Asia and was not to be kept in the Middle East. The nose carries a plaque to commemorate the fact that the aircraft was presented by the Indian Air Force.

The SNAKE suffix to the serial indicated that the aircraft was on delivery to the RAF in South East Asia and was not to be kept in the Middle East. The aircraft carries markings on the nose, presented by the Indian Air Force to the RAF Museum. I was lucky in that other aircraft had been moved around on the day of my visit allowing an unobscured view. It has since been moved to Hendon.